As RPI inflation surges to 9% and energy bills rocket, the strike wave continues to build. A growing number of workers are forced to take action to keep their heads above water in the biggest cost of living squeeze for generations.
The NSSN will keep publicising these disputes and building solidarity for them in this weekly bulletin and on our social media platforms. The TUC demonstration on Saturday 18th June in London is a massive opportunity to bring together workers across all sectors, to build a mass movement against the bosses and their Tory government.
TUC National Demonstration Saturday 18th June Central London
The TUC has called a national demonstration this summer. The NSSN welcomes this so that the biggest possible national demonstration can be built as a platform for the mass co-ordinated industrial action that is needed as workers fight the squeeze on their living standards.
12noon Parliament Square, Westminster, London SW1P 3BD read more
Support sacked P&O workers
NSSN supporters have taken part in demonstrations to support the 800 sacked P&O workers and their unions the RMT and Nautilus International and other seafarer unions. We will advertise solidarity protests in this bulletin and we will update it during the week, and on social media when they are announced. We support the calls for P&O to be nationalised to save jobs and defend communities.
Latest demonstrations:-
Dover – Tuesday 19th April, 2pm RMT Office Snargate Street CT17 9BZ Facebook event
P&O World, London – Thursday 21st April 5pm, 16 Palace Street London SW1E 5JQ UK
RMT: Fight for justice continues for P&O workers with further protests next week (14 Apr)
RMT calls for economic sanctions against P&O – one month on from mass sackings (14 Apr)
RMT demands Grant Shapps detains P&O ferry over serious safety breaches (12 Apr)
Stop union victimisation: support the Coventry bin strike
The Labour council has disgracefully targeted Pete Randle, one of the senior Unite shop stewards. We call on all our supporters to support Pete and his striking members
Unite lodges employment tribunal claim against the Labour controlled Coventry Council for trade union victimisation – Unite has formally lodged an employment tribunal claim against the Labour controlled Coventry Council on behalf of union rep Pete Randle. The council stands accused of shamefully victimising Pete for his trade union duties. On Tuesday (5 April), supporters of Pete Randle were out in force to show solidarity ahead of his investigatory hearing which appeared to be based on groundless and unsubstantiated charges. Last month, the council took the outrageous decision to escalate tensions with Unite by suspending the union’s shop steward on bogus charges in the middle of the bin lorry drivers’ dispute. Strikes began early this year and the 70 HGV drivers have been on all out strike since 31 January in a dispute over low pay. The workers’ basic rate of pay begins at just £22,183 per annum, which is far below pay rates of neighbouring councils. The dispute has already cost Coventry council millions, with costs rising daily, when it would cost just £300,000 to resolve the dispute. The council has even set up a strike breaking, rogue alternative bin collection service. Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Why on earth is Pete Randle being dragged through this kangaroo court? Judging from Tuesday’s hearing the council’s charges are groundless and they must be dropped. Unite will not allow Pete to be victimised for carrying out his trade union duties on behalf of members. We have now lodged a claim at the employment tribunal on Pete’s behalf” read more
Sign petition to Councillor George Duggins – Coventry Council: Reinstate Pete Randle, stop union busting, stop strike breaking and pay the rate
Follow @UniteWestMids on twitter. Coventry bin worker’s strike fund – Unity Trust Bank; Name of Account: Unite WM/7116 Branch Coventry Local Government; Account number: 20302665 Sort code: 60-83-01; send messages of solidarity to [email protected]
2022 NSSN Conference – Saturday 2nd July 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Facebook event
Confirmed speakers include: Sharon Graham Unite General Secretary
Attendance fee £6. Register on the day or email [email protected]
You can download the conference leaflet plus a letter for union branches, trades councils
This will be the 15th national NSSN conference and the first in-person one for three years. As usual will be a vital forum for union reps and members along with anti-cuts campaigners to come together to talk about their struggles and discuss out the strategy, tactics and programme needed for the fight of our lives.
The NSSN will be again holding our rally at TUC Congress in Brighton on Sunday 11th September 1pm-3pm
NSSN fringe meeting at CWU Conference in Bournemouth – lunchtime Sunday 24th April Branksome Suite, BIC. Speakers: CWU President Jane Loftus & NSSN Chair Rob Williams. Refreshments provided. There is also a NSSN stall in the conference exhibition area
Conference: UNDERCOVER POLICING, TRADE UNIONS AND SOCIAL ACTIVISM by Blacklist Support Group, TMG, PSOOL, COPS
Sat, 7 May 2022 10:30 – 17:30 at UNITE House, 128 Theobald’s Rd, Holborn,
London WC1X 8TN read more & register. Our conference will increase awareness of the impact of political policing on trade unions and movements for social change since 1968
Stop the war in Ukraine
The NSSN calls for the unity of working-class people across Ukraine, Russia and the whole region against war, militarisation and repression. We support the actions of independent trade unions in Ukraine and Russia in defending workers.
FBU Executive Council Statement – Invasion and War in Ukraine
Unite executive council – statement on Ukraine crisis
NIPSA statement: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
NSSN news
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month. You can set up a similar standing order to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790. Our address is NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. Feel free to use this affiliation letter.
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Linda on [email protected]
Union News
RMT
48 hour strike on TransPennine Express on Easter weekend (14 Apr) – TPE conductors on major railway lines will take 48 hours of strike action in row over pay and Sunday working this Saturday. The company has point blank refused TPE conductors’ request to increase pay for staff coming in on their days off and Sundays. This week TPE claimed there was no money in the budget to resolve the dispute but were then forced to admit they are paying out 3 times what conductors are asking for on daily basis – to managers to work on trains during strike days. Members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
- hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 13th March 2022
- hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 20th March 2022
- hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 27th March 2022
- hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 3rdApril 2022
- hours on Saturday 16th April 2022 until 23.59 hours on Sunday 17th April 2022
- hours on Saturday 30th April 2022 until 23.59 hours on Sunday 1st May 2022
- hours on Saturday 4th June 2022 until 23.59 hours on Sunday 5th June 2022 read more
Churchill cleaners to take 11 days strike action over pay (14 Apr) – Contracted out cleaning staff will mount picket lines for 11 days from April 27 to May 7 in their fight for a £15 per hour pay rate. Currently cleaners working on Churchill contracts on GTR, Eurostar, SE trains, and HS1 can earn as little £8.91 an hour. RMT is also demanding company sick pay and free travel for cleaning staff across the network, in line every other worker on the railway read more
Fight for justice continues for P&O workers with further protests next week (14 Apr) – Fight for justice continues for P&O workers with further protests next week as company actions unleash Easter chaos. MARITIME UNION RMT will be keeping up the pressure on P&O with further protests next week over the mass sacking of 800 of the company’s seafarers. Demonstrations are taking place:-
- Organised by RMT in Dover on Tuesday 19th April at 2pm at Maritime House Snargate Street, Dover CT17 9BZ
- Organised by the ITF in London outside the offices of DP World on Thursday 21st April (in the afternoon time TBC) 16 Palace Street London SW1E 5JQ UK read more
RMT calls for economic sanctions against P&O – one month on from mass sackings (14 Apr) – The Maritime union points out that several P&O Ferries have not been able to sail since the vicious and reckless act of sacking 800 skilled seafarers on the 17th March. Ships have been found to not be seaworthy due to agency crews not being familiar with the vessels, a lack of competency around fire safety and emergency evacuation, firefighting equipment that is not fit for purpose, and deficient structural integrity levels. P&O has also tried to claim that the callous and unlawful act of sacking 800 staff was to “minimise disruption to the vital services we run on major sea routes.” Read more
RMT demands Grant Shapps detains P&O ferry over serious safety breaches (12 Apr) – Maritime union RMT has written to the Transport Secretary following a catalogue of failures on the P&O operated Pride of Hull vessel. Port authorities in the Netherlands listed failures around fire safety, deficient training for crew and below standard ship structural integrity, during an inspection between 7 and 8 April. P&O sacked 800 workers in Britain without warning last month, sparking angry protests at ports across the country read more
RMT demands withdrawal of new see-through uniforms on Avanti West Coast (13 Apr) – RMT demands withdrawal of new see-through uniforms on Avanti West Coast which have sparked a barrage of angry complaints from staff. RAIL UNION RMT has demanded the withdrawal of new transparent shirts and blouses issued to staff on Avanti West Coast that have sparked a barrage of angry complaints from members read more
Action solid this morning in two RMT rail strikes (10 Apr) – RAIL UNION RMT said today that action is rock solid again this morning in strikes Involving Trans Pennine Express conductors and Atalian Servest cleaners on the West Coast Mainline read more
Congratulations on rock solid London Underground action – All RMT London Underground members are congratulated for the rock-solid strike action across the entire network this week. There has been a brilliant show of solidarity and support from you all and you are commended for your commitment to fight against vicious attacks on your jobs and pensions in order to pay for the TfL funding crisis read more
Support the London Night Tube strike: every Friday and Saturday nights on Central and Victoria lines read more
TSSA
Avanti boss urged to withdraw see through uniforms (16 Apr) – TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has written to the boss of Avanti West Coast to formally ask that the train operating company abandon plans to bring in see through uniforms read more
TSSA calls on Avanti to bin ‘disgraceful’ see through uniforms (15 Apr)
TSSA warns of risk of widespread railway industrial action (11 Apr) – TSSA warns of threat of industrial action across the rail industry. TSSA has warned of the risk of industrial action on the railways unless the union receives guarantees over jobs, pay, and terms and conditions for members. The rail union wrote to Network Rail, and train operators under the Department for Transport (DfT), seeking a commitment to No Compulsory Redundancies until the end of this year, and no detriment to terms and conditions, along with pay increases in line with RPI inflation read more
Unite
Unite confirms further dates for strike action for pay increase by council, education and housing workers in Northern Ireland (15 Apr) – Strike action set to continue over a two week period spanning end of April and early May. Following on from strike action taken by Unite members at Councils, the Education Authority, NI Housing Executive, further education colleges, schools and youth service, the union has now confirmed a timetable of further strike action. This will take the form of a discontinuous strike in the last week of April and early May. The strike follows the failure of employers to provide an improved pay offer to workers. The increase offered under the National Joint Council amounts to 1.75 per cent. The current rate of inflation impacting workers’ living standard is nine per cent read more
Manchester facing prolonged bin strikes as Biffa workers back strike action in pay dispute (14 Apr) – Manchester is braced for city-wide bin strikes next month as refuse collection workers employed by Biffa have overwhelmingly voted for strike action over a ‘lousy’ pay offer. Biffa is offering the workers, including members of Unite the union, just 1.75 per cent on pay, a real terms pay cut given that the real cost of living (RPI rate) currently stands at nine per cent and is expected to rise further. Over 200 workers – drivers, loaders and environmental operatives – employed by Biffa on the outsourced Manchester council refuse collection contract will begin strike action on Tuesday 3 May with the strike ending on Friday 13 May. There will then be a further two week strike from Monday 23 May until Friday 3 June read more
Workers at major UK pallet supplier Chep vote for further strike action, rejecting ‘totally inadequate’ pay offer (14 Apr) – Workers at pallet suppliers Chep UK at Trafford Park have today (Thursday 14 April) rejected the company’s latest pay offer, which means that the five-month long strike could continue into the summer, Unite the union says. Unite’s members rejected the offer, which is well below inflation, as ‘totally inadequate’, as the RPI rate of inflation soared to nine per cent. The rejection followed a march to the picket line last night (Wednesday 13 April) attended by 200 of supporters. The union, which has a mandate to strike until 19 May, will now ballot members in a third ballot for further strike action beyond that date read more
Sign this petition to Brambles CEO Graham Chipchase & Vice-President for CHEP UK & Ireland Matt Quinn – CHEP UK – Your Pay Offer is unPALLETable!
Unite members to strike following unfair disciplining of activist by the NEU (14 Apr) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by the National Education Union (NEU) in its London Region, are to take 48 hours of strike action in support of a colleague who they believe was unfairly disciplined. The workers recorded a 94 per cent vote in favour of strike action in support of their colleague Michael Gavan who is a regional officer at the NEU and a Unite rep. Mr Gavan has been disciplined on a matter that members believe should have been dealt with informally or through mediation. Strike action will take place on Wednesday 20 April and Thursday 21 April read more
Unite statement: Our union condemns outright government’s abominable proposal to send asylum seekers 4,500 miles to Rwanda (14 Apr) – Unite the union has condemned outright the government’s hideous, inhumane proposal to send those seeking asylum in the UK to detention in Rwanda read more
Bullying culture at Cardiff City Council Waste Services provokes near 100% vote in favour of protest strike action (13 Apr) – Following an industrial action ballot in which Unite members voted by a majority of 98 per cent to strike in a dispute over widespread bullying within the Cardiff City Council Waste Services, waste service workers employed by Cardiff City Council will start six weeks of continuous strike from 22 April. The strike will cause widespread disruption to the city’s refuse and recycling collections. A survey of Unite members working within Waste Services found that over 60 per cent of workers have either witnessed workplace bullying or had been bullied themselves. Unite has raised a number of other issues with the council which stem from the bullying culture. These include health and safety failings, misuse of agency labour and unfair targeting of Unite union reps read more
Luton airport Easter strikes off as Unite secures sick pay victory (13 Apr) – Planned strikes this Easter by Luton Airport baggage handlers and check in staff, employed by GH London Ground Handling Services on the Wizz Air contract, have been called off after Unite secured a deal to provide sick pay to the workers for the first time. The company has also pledged to compensate workers for the persistent payroll problems. Around 100 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, were due to begin strike action tomorrow (Thursday 14 April) with strikes lasting until Tuesday 19 April. Workers with at least a year’s service will receive 13 weeks of sick pay with a mixture of full pay and half pay depending on their length of service. Additionally, the company has agreed to pay each worker £100 compensation if their pay is late read more
Workers at major housing association in North East and Yorkshire being balloted for strike action over ‘insulting’ pay offer (13 Apr) – Workers at Thirteen Housing Group, which has over 35,000 properties in North East and Yorkshire, are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over an ‘insulting’ pay offer as the chief executive pockets £215,000 a year. Unite the union said that in an earlier consultative ballot, its members had overwhelmingly rejected a three per cent pay offer at a time the real cost of living (RPI) is currently 9.0 per cent and set to rise further read more
Renfrewshire Council faces legal challenge by Unite over trade union discrimination (13 Apr) – Unite has today (Wednesday 13 April) confirmed it is exploring legal action on behalf of around 200 craft workers employed by Renfrewshire Council. The union is concerned that the local authority is potentially discriminating against Unite members for trade union activities following the rejection of a pay offer read more
Historic first as FCA workforce vote to take industrial action at regulator (12 Apr) – Unite, the union representing staff at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has today (Tuesday 12 April) announced the result of the industrial action vote at the FCA. The ballot closed with over 75 per cent voting in favour of industrial action following the dispute around changes to pay and conditions. A further 89.8 per cent also voted to support industrial action short of strike action. The vote for strike is a historic first for the FCA workforce read more
Teesport Easter tug boat strikes off as Unite secures pay increase for workers (12 Apr) – Planned industrial action at Teesport this Easter by tugboat crews employed by Svitzer Marine have been called off after Unite the union secured an improved pay offer. The workers were due to strike from Wednesday 13 April until Sunday 17 April. Tug boat crews are responsible for ensuring that container ships can safely enter and leave the port. Two periods of strike action in March caused serious delays at the port. Svitzer Marine improved its pay offer following the announcement of the latest strike dates which the workers, who are members of Unite, have accepted read more
Unite warns Caterpillar that attempts to break strike threaten health and safety of workers (12 Apr) – Strike by Caterpillar workers at Larne and Belfast results in huge impact to production on site. Unite, the union representing Caterpillar workers who commenced strike action yesterday [Monday 11 April], has hit out at management whose failed attempts to undermine the strike have resulted in mounting concerns for workers’ health and safety. Over the weekend reports circulated that untrained employees at sites in Britain were being offered money to take up production roles at the company’s two Northern Ireland sites during the dispute. In a letter to Unite responding to its challenges over the health and safety implications of such a deployment, Caterpillar management claimed that “the health and safety of all our workers is of paramount importance and…safety is our number 1 priority.” However, on the first day of strike action (yesterday) a striking worker was hit by a HGV as it was attempting to speed past the pickets. The worker escaped with minor injuries as he was able to jump out of the way but left Unite questioning how encouraging drivers to cross picket lines tallied with a purported commitment to worker safety read more
Unite secures 12.2 per cent pay rise for Sellafield cleaners and catering staff (12 Apr) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a major 12.2 per cent rise for cleaners and caterers working at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing site in Cumbria. The 30-plus workers are employed by Mire Services Ltd, a local company which undertakes cleaning and catering services for the hundreds of construction workers who operate on the complex. Unite has secured a pay deal which has seen the workers’ pay increase from the national minimum wage rate of £8.91 an hour to £10 per hour, a rise of 12.2 per cent read more
Oxford MINI facing serious disruption as warehouse workers set to strike over `inadequate’ pay (12 Apr) – Production of the MINI at Oxford could be severely disrupted during pay strikes by warehouse workers handling components for the carmaker, Unite the union warned today (Tuesday 12 April). Nearly 150 workers based at the Oxford MINI plant, employed by logistics firm Rudolph & Hellmann Automotive Limited, will strike on 26 and 28 April and 4, 6, 10, 12, 17 and 19 May. The workers, made up of warehouse staff and shunter drivers, are striking over an ‘inadequate’ pay offer read more
Croydon council grounds maintenance workers to strike over ‘unacceptable’ 1.75 per cent pay offer (11 Apr) – Croydon council grounds maintenance workers will strike over an ‘unacceptable’ 1.75 per cent pay offer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Monday 11 April). More than 20 staff responsible for maintaining parks and open spaces in the borough will strike between 25 and 27 April and 3 May and 5 May. The workers will strike at the same time as Hackney council staff take industrial action on the same issue. While the rate of real inflation (the RPI) is running at 8.2 per cent and rising, the 1.75 per cent offer, rising to 2.75 per cent for those on the bottom pay point, has been set nationally by the Local Government Association (LGA) for 2021/22. Unite is urging Croydon council to reject the LGA recommendation, table a proper pay rise and prevent the possibility of long-running strike action read more
Loganair Cabin Crew secure pay deal worth up to £3,000 (11 Apr) – Unite the union and Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, have today (Monday 11 April) confirmed a new pay deal for the airline’s cabin crew across the UK, worth up to £3,000 over the next eighteen months. The deal will take effect from this month following the successful outcome of a ballot of Unite members in Loganair read more
Northern Ireland bus drivers confirm first dates for strike action – Joint union strike action will shut down public bus services across Northern Ireland. Unite has confirmed initial dates for strike action on Ulsterbus and Metro bus services. These will be taken in conjunction with GMB who also represents bus workers at Translink. The strike action planned will be a week starting 25 April and concluding on 1 May and a single day on Friday May 6. The strike comes after members of the union overwhelmingly voted for industrial action after rejecting the latest Translink management pay offer read more
Hackney council workers strike over “insulting” 1.75% pay offer – More than 200 Hackney council workers will strike over an “insulting” 1.75 per cent pay offer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday 6 April). Staff working in refuse, building services and passenger services for those with disabilities and special educational needs, will strike between 25 and 27 April and 3 May and 5 May. While the rate of real inflation (the RPI) is running at 8.2 per cent and rising, the 1.75 per cent offer, rising to 2.75 per cent for those on the bottom pay point, has been set nationally by the Local Government Association (LGA) for 2021/22. Unite is urging Hackney council to reject the LGA recommendation, table a proper pay rise and prevent the possibility of long-running strike action read more
Hackney council worker protest – Thursday 21st April Hackney Town Hall 1pm-2pm
Unite urges Woolwich Ferry – seize opportunity to resolve dispute as strike ballot suspended to kick-start talks – Woolwich Ferry’s workers have suspended their industrial action and also plans to hold another strike ballot in a goodwill gesture to resolve the long-running dispute, Unite the union said today (Tuesday 5 April). Unite has put forward proposals, which remain confidential, to Transport for London (TfL) bosses to kick-start meaningful talks over the poor employment relations that have been the hallmark of successive operators of the troubled ferry. Six workers, including two Unite reps, still remain unfairly suspended when the last bout of industrial action ended on 28 March read more
Strike action continues as GE Aviation accused of ‘dirty tricks’ in Gloucester pay dispute – Workers at Gloucester’s Hurricane Road GE Aviation factory will be striking every Friday until their call for a fair wage is honoured, Unite the union has said today (Tuesday 29 March). Multinational GE Aviation has been accused of `dirty tricks’ in an attempt to undermine the workers. The 90-plus workers are employed by GE’s subsidiary Dowty Propellers. The workers have rejected a two year pay offer worth just 4.5 per cent which, with the actual level of inflation (retail price index) standing at 8.2 per cent, amounts to a real terms pay cut read more
Petrol stations facing disruption as workers fight for a fair wage from ‘filthy rich’ Exxon at Southampton oil refinery – Petrol station and airport fuel supplies are facing disruption as workers at Exxon’s Southampton oil refinery fight for a fair wage from their “filthy rich” employer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday 29 March). Around 100 workers, who make up a third of the contractors at the Fawley Refinery, will strike on 8 April, 25 April and 6 May, with more strikes to be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved. Fawley supplies a sixth of petrol stations nationwide and all airports. As some workers provide safety critical services, strike action could lead to shutdowns across the plant read more
Veolia workers across Edinburgh and Lothians set to strike over `insulting’ pay offer – Unite can confirm today (24 March) that more than 50 members working for Veolia Water across Edinburgh and the Lothians are set to take strike action in a dispute over pay. The strike action, involving plant operatives, electrical maintenance, mechanical, and administrative staff, was supported overwhelmingly by 94 per cent of Unite’s members in a ballot turnout of 83 per cent. The Veolia workers are demanding a significantly improved pay offer from the company. With the more realistic cost of living (RPI) currently running at 8.2 per cent per cent, Veolia’s offer of 2.6 per cent for this year is a pay cut. Strike action will take place from 7-13 April, and then continuous strike action from 21 April read more
Airbus Broughton workers set for industrial action – Unite members working at Airbus’ Broughton site in North Wales are set to take industrial action following a rejection of the company’s latest pay offer. Over 3,000 workers at the giant Broughton plant will commence industrial action from 7 April unless Airbus improves the pay deal read more
Strikes at County Durham car bearing factories set to disrupt automakers – Pay strikes at car bearing manufacturers NSK Bearings and AKS Precision Ball in Peterlee, County Durham, are set to disrupt supply chains for automakers, including VW, Toyota and Renault, Unite, the UK’s leading union, has warned. Around 200 workers, comprising the entire shopfloor workforce at the two factories, both owned by NSK Europe, will take strike action every Wednesday and Saturday for the next six weeks over an ‘insulting’ 1.6 per cent pay offer. The first strike will begin tomorrow (23 March) with the possibility of industrial action intensifying if a new offer is not put forward read more
Industrial action set to have a ‘severe impact’ on Lerwick Port – Unite the union today (15 March) confirmed that its members working at the Lerwick Port Authority have voted in support of industrial action over pay, terms and conditions. For a number of years, despite the prosperity and expansion of the port, skilled and semi-skilled employees have been paid considerably less than nationally agreed rates. Around a dozen key workers voted unanimously in support of strike action and an overtime ban. The industrial action will include engineers, electricians, joiners and general operatives. Unite members will now commence a continuous overtime ban from 28 March at the main port in the Shetland Islands. Due to the significant hours of overtime required to ensure the effective running of operations at the port, Unite has stated that any overtime ban in itself will have a ‘severe impact’ on the cruise liners and oil and gas vessels, as well as the general shipping, which use the harbour read more
Ford facing tipper truck and van shortages as VFS workers in Eastleigh to strike over pay – Workers employed at the south coast firm VFS Southampton Ltd, who assemble tipper trucks and vans for Ford, have announced extensive strike action in a dispute over pay. The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, voted overwhelmingly for the action after VFS imposed a pay award which the company claims is worth 3.65 per cent but, with the RPI (retail price index) rate of inflation currently standing at 7.8 per cent and set to rise further, is in reality a pay cut. VFS also assembles large vehicles for Mercedes so the strikes will hit both companies with delays to the delivery of vehicles. Unite’s members will hold a 24-hour strike on Tuesday 29 March with a further six strike periods scheduled for a total of 25 days until mid-June. The workers will be striking on the following dates: 29 March, 1 April, 11-14 April, 25-29 April, 3-6 May, 23-27 May and 6-10 June read more
GE Steam Rugby buyer EDF warned it’s ‘inheriting industrial unrest’ as first strike in 45 years continues – EDF’s plans to buy Rugby’s historic turbine factory could result in the French energy giant inheriting industrial unrest unless pay strikes against the current owner GE Steam Power are resolved, Unite has warned. The first strike in 45 years will continue at the 120-year-old factory tomorrow (Friday 4 March) and Monday (7 March) at Newbold Road, Rugby, CV21 2NH. The dispute is over GE Steam Power’s refusal to negotiate over flexible working payments and the expectation that workers will take on new roles without extra pay. More than 75 Unite members, comprising nearly the entirety of the factory’s workforce, are taking a further eight days of strike action between 18 March and 2 May. Since GE Steam Power’s acquisition of the Rugby site 11 years ago, the relationship between the workers and management has been become increasingly strained over pay, redundancies, attacks on pensions and cuts to death in service benefits read more
Envases Liverpool Ltd printers to strike over dismissal of Unite rep – Members of Unite employed as printers by Envases Liverpool Ltd will take 12 days of strike action next month following the dismissal of the union’s rep. Unite believes that its rep John Williams was dismissed on the false charges as a direct consequence of him standing up for the Unite members at the factory. Envases had sought to use misleading information and a false statement to try to drive a wedge between Unite and another union at the factory. After Mr Williams exposed the company’s actions he was dismissed read more
Economic forecasters to strike in a row over inflation – Economists and researchers at the world famous NIESR (National Institute of Economic and Social Research) will stage a two week strike in a row over two years of below inflation pay offers. The strike begins on Friday 21st January and ends on Friday 4 February. The action means that there is a very real possibility that the forthcoming forecasts for the UK and global economies, which have been published quarterly since the 1980s, will not go ahead. NIESR staff will be unable to deliver on project work for external partners and funders, and will be unable to participate in events and other dissemination activities. The RPI reached 7.1 per cent at the end of 2021 but NIESR bosses are sticking to their decision to give staff 0% for 2020-21 and just 2% for 2021-22. The pay offer fails to keep up with the rising cost of living and represents a significant pay cut in real terms read more
Strike action set to hit Dalkeith based FLB print firm – Unite the union has today (10 January) confirmed that around 110 workers at print and publishing firm FLB Group in Dalkeith, which owns the Filofax and Letts brands, will take strike action this week in a dispute over pay. The strike action will take place on Wednesday (12 January) at 6am and conclude at 05:59am on Thursday. It is the first of a series of 24 hour stoppages commencing every Wednesday into Thursday until 31 March. Some 95.7 per cent of the eligible workforce previously voted in support of strike action in late November on an 84.4 per cent turnout. The pay dispute originates from early 2021 when Unite’s members were informed by FLB that there would be no pay rise. Due to pressure from Unite, the company made several unsatisfactory offers that ended with a below inflation two-year offer of 2.75 per cent. Unite is demanding a six per cent pay increase at a time when the cost of living is at a ten-year high. The Retail Prices Index stood at 7.1 per cent in November 2021 read more
Strike action by Turners of Soham logistic drivers set to impact major aviation companies – Logistic drivers working for Turners of Soham based out of Grangemouth are set to begin strike action tomorrow (6 January) in a dispute over pay. The logistic drivers work on the Q8 Aviation Deliveries contract which provides fuel services for a number of major aviation companies. The strike action follows 100% of Unite members voting to take strike action, on a turnout of 100% at the end of December 2021, following a lack of progress after months of negotiations with the company. The current wave of strike action ends on 14 January at 24:00 hours with further dates to be planned in the coming weeks. Unite’s members based at Grangemouth have been offered an 8.7% increase, despite the same company awarding its drivers in the North West of England 17.5% in October of last year read more
Evonik workers at historic Manchester chemicals site strike over pay – Evonik workers at a 130-year-old Manchester chemicals site are to strike over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday 13 October). Around 25 production and warehouse operatives at Evonik’s Clayton site, which has been a chemical plant since 1892, are taking industrial action after rejecting a 1.5 per cent pay offer read more
PCS
NATS (Air Traffic Systems) Pay Settlement (13 Apr) – Following two years of a complete pay freeze PCS officials and lay officers have achieved a consolidated pay increase of 3% for members in NATS. Whilst this falls short of the announced 7% inflation rate, PCS has additionally been able to gain a £3000 lump sum payment that will paid in members’ next pay. NATS members endorsed the offer gained in a ballot that closed on 13 April 2022 with a fantastic turnout of 84% of members casting their vote of which 87.9% of those members voted to accept the pay offer read more
GMB
Fox’s Glacier Mint workers strike over fire and rehire threat (13 Apr) – Fox’s Glacier Mint workers will take a full day of strike action tomorrow [April 14] in anger at the company’s fire and rehire threat. Staff at Valeo York, who also make Poppets and humbugs, mint assortments butter mints, rhubarb and custards and lemon sherberts for well-known supermarkets including M&S, will be joined by the Yorkshire Polar Bear and local councillors read more
Sushi maker loses tips of fingers in accident then ‘sent to hospital in taxi’ (13 Apr) – A sushi maker sliced off the tips of two fingers in and accident and was then sent to A&E in a tax, GMB Union says. The accident happened in January at the Taiko Foods factory in Acton – a major supplier to supermarkets including Waitrose and Sainsbury’s read more
Glasgow equal pay strike suspended (13 Apr) – GMB Union members have suspended next week’s Glasgow equal pay strike. Thousands of Glasgow City Council workers were set to walk out on 20 and 21 April. Workers suspended the industrial action after securing of a commitment from the council to an equal pay settlement for thousands of GMB members on the same basis as the landmark 2019 agreement read more
Northampton bin workers vote to strike (13 Apr) – Northampton town’s bin workers have voted for strike action. Industrial action – which could affect 94,000 homes – could take place as early as 27 April. GMB now meet with members to discuss possible strike dates. Northampton’s refuse collectors – employed by Veolia – are angry after turning down a real terms pay cut, with inflation running at a 9 per cent. The council, ultimately responsible for bin collections, has increased Veolia’s funding by 5.5 per cent, but the company are refusing to pass that on to workers read more
Manchester bin strike to go ahead (12 Apr) – Manchester residents face a bin strike after workers voted for industrial action today. GMB Union will now meet with members to discuss dates for the strike, which could affect up to 220,000 homes. More than 90 per cent of the workers, employed by outsourced waste management company Biffa, voted for industrial action – on a turnout of more than 60 per cent read more
GMB members in Wealden announce bin strike (12 Apr) – Refuse collectors employed by Biffa within Wealden District Council will be going on strike over pay. The strike is due to commence on 25th April and is scheduled for an initial two weeks, with further action possible if talks are not productive. Almost 65,000 households will be affected by the action. Talks between the union and Biffa management begin on Thursday 21 April read more
GMB pauses Adur & Worthing strike action ahead of talks on Wednesday (12 Apr) – GMB, the union for refuse and recycling workers has today paused strike action in Adur and Worthing, ahead of talks tomorrow. Striking GMB members voted today for the pause following talks over the weekend and yesterday with the Council. Bin collections will resume ahead of substantive talks tomorrow (Wednesday) on pay and conditions. Vehicles are starting to go out on rounds this morning and plans are being drawn up to work through the backlog as soon as possible. GMB have agreed to pause its strike action after a vote by striking members at the council’s refuse, recycling and cleaning service at Commerce Way, Lancing this morning. The councils have agreed a one-off ‘catch up’ payment to all staff at the service in order to begin as swiftly as possible to deal with the additional work that has built up after four weeks of the strike read more
Sandwell leisure staff vote to strike over pay (11 Apr) – Sandwell Leisure Centre staff have voted to strike in a pay dispute. More than 84 per cent of eligible GMB members voted in favour of industrial action. GMB will now meet with dozens of members across all nine sites to discuss possible strike dates, which could be as early as 25 April. Bosses at the leisure centre refused to discuss a pay claim put forward by GMB, Unison and Unite members at the end of 2021 read more
Medway Council makes ‘miserly’ compensation offer for school support staff in Dickens country (11 Apr) – GMB union has heavily criticised the decision by Medway Council to impose a ‘miserly’ compensation offer to hundreds of their employees over historic underpayment. These school workers, predominantly low-paid women, are being given just two weeks’ pay despite being underpaid for years due to a miscalculation of their holiday pay while working a term-time only contract, which is typically 39 weeks out of 52 read more
Thousands of Cadent gas workers vote to strike (11 Apr) – Thousands of field force workers at gas giant Cadent have voted for strike action. Nearly 2,000 GMB members will now walk out as early as 22 April. Industrial action could potentially case outages at homes and businesses throughout five regions in England; North West, East and West Midlands, East Anglia and North London. The ballot comes after workers resoundingly rejected a below inflation pay increase of 2 per cent for 2021 and 4 per cent from July 22. With inflation running at 8.2 per cent, the deal amounts to a massive real terms pay cut. Cadent made an operating profit of £901 million in 2021, while CEO Steve Fraser was paid £1.4 million in 2020/21. GMB will now meet with members to confirm strike dates read more
JCB deliver drivers to vote on strike action (11 Apr) – JCB delivery drivers are to vote on strike action in anger at a real terms pay cut. Dozens of GMB members, employed by delivery giant DHL, voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action during a consultative ballot. The workers, who deliver JCB parts between factories across the UK, are now set for a full industrial action ballot at the end of the month. Bosses are trying to impose at 5 per cent pay award, with inflation running at more tha 8 per cent read more
Translink bus strike dates announced – Bus drivers on the Translink network are set to strike from 25 April for one week, GMB Union announced today (Thursday). Drivers will down tools from 00.01 25 April to 23.59 on 1 May – with a further one day strike planned for 6 May to mark the Assembly Election count beginning. In a successful industrial action ballot conducted in Translink, 82 per cent backed strike action. Unions submitted a pay claim of 6 per cent to help the bus drivers, cleaners and shunters cope with rampant inflation. Inflation has now hit 8.2 per cent and with further price hikes in energy costs announced, the struggle for working people to cover essential bills will only worsen read more
GMB initiate eleventh-hour talks to avoid North Somerset bin strike – An eleventh-hour attempt to avoid a North Somerset bin strike will take place today [7 April] as GMB union and the council meet for talks. More than 100 workers at recycling centres and refuse collection services run by North Somerset Environment Company are set to walk out for six days in April: 12 to 13, 16 to 17 and 21 to 22 read more
Barrow bin strike: Six more days of industrial action – Refuse collectors in Barrow have announced six more days of industrial action in their fight for a living wage. GMB members working FCC Environment will walk out on from 30 March to 1 April and then 6 to 8 April read more
Unison
Sick pay survey launched as staff say they can’t afford to be sick (13 Apr) – All those who complete the survey will automatically be entered into a £250 prize draw. The survey deadline is 22 April 2022 read more
Third round of strike action to take place at Dundee University – Donate to the branch’s hardship fund to help members fight against pensions proposals. UNISON members at Dundee University who are part of, or are eligible to be part of the university’s superannuation scheme are taking further strike action over proposed changes to the scheme. This will be the third round of action for members, in response to plans which would affect around 900 staff on grades one to six. Those on higher grades would not be affected as they fall under a different, nationally negotiated, scheme read more
HE workers prepare for further strikes over pay and pensions – University staff provide vital services, but they’ve seen the value of their pay plummet. Workers on the picket line in Leeds, with placards that say ‘Fair pay now’ and ‘1.5% doesn’t pay the rent’. UNISON members will take further strike days at eight universities over pay and pensions issues from this week. This is the second round of strikes at each of the universities, following a series of dates in February and earlier this month. Action is to take place during the next three weeks at Birkbeck, SOAS, City, King’s College London (all University of London), Brighton University, Gloucestershire University, Edinburgh Napier University and Leeds University. Staff at each of the institutions have voted to strike over the imposition of a 1.5% settlement in August 2021, which came on top of a 0% settlement imposed in 2020. In addition, workers at two of the universities – Leeds and SOAS – are also taking industrial action over changes to their pension, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). These strikes will take place on the 24 and 25 March read more
NIPSA
NIPSA NJC 2022-23 Update (15 Apr) – NIPSA representatives have carried out a consultation on this years pay claim for NJC workers. NIPSA has given full consideration to the current economic circumstances and the massive squeeze on workers pay. With that in mind NIPSA is seeking a claim as follows:-
- Inflation + 10% cost of living increase + uplift of the mileage rate
- This view will be fed into the discussion with the NJC joint trade unions
Patrick Mulholland Deputy General Secretary read more
Members’ Update on Return to Workplace Plans and the NIHE Pay and Grading Review (15 Apr) – Further to the article posted on the 23 March , further intense engagement and written exchanges have continued between Trade Union Side and HR. The protective “Work from Home where you can” message from the NI Executive has remained in place in NI, as reinforced by the Health Minister to date. NIPSA’s position on the RTW transition plan has therefore remained consistent, as set out in my previous Bulletin. It is worth noting that other public sector Employers, including the NICS, who had intended to commence the introduction of hybrid working policies and phased return to workplaces, postponed doing so in April due to the continued WFH health message in NI read more
NI Assembly Members: Notice of Ballot for Industrial Action (1 Apr) – Members in NI Assembly please see below letter sent today to MLAs from Dooley Harte Assistant Secretary: I am writing to provide you with a copy of a press release (link below) that we have just issued today after lodging notice to ballot our members employed by the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission on Pay and Working from Home read more
NIPSA Members employed as Education Welfare Officers announce 72 Hour stoppage – NIPSA, the largest union from the non-teaching workforce in Education, announces that members employed as Education Welfare Officers will embark on 3 full days of strike action commencing 2nd March read more
CWU
CWU rejects insulting two percent pay offer from Post Office (6 Apr) – Employer proposes basic deal worth less than a quarter of current RPI inflation, plus a ‘derisory’ £250 lump sum. “Insulting and downright inflammatory” were among the choice words used by CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey in robust message to branches yesterday, to describe the pay proposals received from the Post Office. “They’re offering a basic, across-the-board consolidated 2 per cent, with an added £250 non-consolidated lump-sum for each employee (pro-rata for part-time) – and even worse than that, they’re refusing to offer a single penny of backpay.” This offer, as set out by the Post Office, proposes to apply the pay adjustment with-effect from 1st April 2022, with the next pay settlement date to be 1st April 2023. But the union is currently in dispute over the total pay freeze imposed by management during the 2021/22 financial year. Andy explains: “Our pay dispute with Post Office Limited, and the issue upon which our members returned a 97.3 per cent YES vote for strike action, is the employer’s refusal to pay any pay rise at all for 2021/22, so any offer that comes now must include backpay to 1st April 2021 at the very least…” read more
EIS
EIS union steps up campaign to protect Western Isles education (14 Apr) – The EIS trade union is stepping up its campaign to ensure Comhairle nan Eilean Siar / Western Islands Council consults with staff via their trade unions, parent councils, pupils and communities over proposed changes to secondary school timetables read more
Dundee’s Teachers set to open Statutory Ballot for Industrial Action – The EIS has served Dundee City Council with a notice of a Statutory Ballot for Industrial Action. The ballot will open on 19 April 2022. An earlier consultative ballot organised by the Dundee Local Association of the EIS saw Dundee’s teachers vote strongly in favour of industrial action over Dundee Council’s proposals to move to a faculty structure in its secondary schools read more
UCU
Staff at 24 UK universities back further strike action in ballot over USS pension cuts (12 Apr) –
- Almost eight in ten (79.5%) back strikes
- Dispute over cuts of 35% to guaranteed retirement incomes of staff
- UCU calls for new valuation of USS scheme as value of assets soars
- Union’s members holding meeting later this month to decide next steps in pension dispute
Staff at 24 UK universities have secured a mandate to take further strike action in a dispute over cuts to pensions which could see disruption continue throughout the rest of the academic year. Overall, eight in ten (79.5%) backed strike action with almost nine in ten (88.1%) voting for action short of strike (ASOS). The vote in favour of strike action is higher than it was during the ballots that concluded in November last year, where 76% backed strike action. Today’s results mean that staff at 27 universities have a mandate to take strike action over pensions which will last until October 2022. Staff at Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University did not take part in the ballots but will join any possible action as their mandate remains live. Queen Mary University of London has a live mandate until July read more
Staff at 36 UK universities back further strike action in ballot over pay and working conditions (11 Apr) –
- More than seven in ten (74%) back strikes
- Employers more intransigent than ever, UCU says
- Union’s members holding meeting later this month to decide next steps
Staff at thirty-six UK universities have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay and working conditions which could see higher education hit by further disruption this academic year. Overall, over seven in ten of those who voted (74%) backed strike action with over eight in ten (85.9%) voting for action short of strike. The vote in favour of strike action is higher than it was during the ballots that concluded in November last year, where 70.1% backed strike action read more
Colleges across the North West of England facing industrial action following successful strike ballots (12 Apr) – Six colleges across the North West England could see industrial action in the coming weeks and months following following successful statutory industrial action ballots from UCU members. Staff at Burnley College, Bury College, Hopwood Hall College, City of Liverpool College, Nelson & Colne College and Oldham College have voted to say that they are prepared to take industrial action and members at all six colleges will now prepare for strikes unless employers agree to negotiate a settlement. UCU says college leaders must act now if they want to avoid the disruption of strike action, which will otherwise impact up to 40k students read more
UCU statement on the closure of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) (12 Apr) – The sudden closure of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (Alra) is a shameful episode, for which the Department for Education bears significant responsibility. Alra’s financial difficulties were the predictable consequence of the poor regulation of private providers and an ideological reliance on fees. The government’s vindictive attacks on funding for creative and performing arts and its refusal to support these subjects in higher education form the background to ALRA’s collapse read more
Union calls for 10% pay increase for college staff as members signal appetite for strike action (7 Apr) – The University and College Union (UCU) has submitted a formal pay claim for 2022-23 to employer body the Association of Colleges (AoC), as part of the fight to improve pay and conditions for staff across the sector. The claim, submitted jointly with other unions representing further education staff in England (GMB, Unison, NEU and Unite), calls for a 10% pay increase on all points with a minimum uplift of £2000, all colleges to become accredited Foundation Living wage employers and for significant movement towards agreements on workload in colleges. Negotiations with AoC are expected to formally commence in May. The claim comes as further education staff across England voted in their thousands to consider the next steps towards industrial action in defence of the claim. Nine in ten members (91%) that took part in the recent indicative ballot voted to consider strike action and many branches may soon move towards statutory postal ballots for industrial action – the last step needed before strikes can take place. Since 2009 pay in further education has fallen behind inflation by more than 35%. The gap between school and college teachers stands at around £9000 and the AoC themselves recently described the current staffing crisis as the worst in decades read more
Support the UCU Goldsmiths strikes – University and College Union (UCU) members at Goldmiths University are continuing to take strike action as part of an ongoing dispute over plans to sack 46 members of staff. Goldsmiths wants to make the cuts as part of a ‘recovery plan’ after years of financial mismanagement have left the university with a £12.7m deficit. The union says the ‘recovery plan’ is a deal struck with Lloyds and Natwest banks to use redundancies to improve the university’s finances. Following a failure by the university last week to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies staff have been left with no option but to take industrial action in defence of jobs. The university has already been hit with a global boycott which means UCU is asking its members, other trade unions, labour movement organisations and the international academic community to support its members at Goldsmiths in any way possible. Follow @GoldsmithsUCU on twitter and on Facebook
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
FBU “remains humbled” by suffering of Grenfell community as “aftermath” section of inquiry starts (12 Apr) – The Fire Brigades Union has said that it “remains humbled” by the suffering of the bereaved, survivors and residents of the Grenfell community as Module 4 of Phase 2 of the inquiry starts. Module 4, which began yesterday, is dealing with the aftermath of the disaster in terms of how the bereaved, survivors and residents were treated, and particularly the role of authorities. The union has reiterated that it remains humbled by the community’s suffering in its opening submission for this module, and that “The resilience and dignity of the displaced residents survivors and bereaved throughout this torrid time is deserving of the highest praise” read more
BFAWU
The launch of the toolkit for Achieving Equal Pay in the Workplace (15 Apr) – from Sarah Woolley BFAWU General Secretary): Our friends at the Equality Trust have launched a new practical guide which supports union reps to campaign for equal pay in their workplaces. The toolkit is designed to help workers identify if there is a problem with equal pay in a workplace and supports their examination of existing policies and practices that might have an impact on equal pay. It encourages workers to negotiate with their employer around specific workplace practices and make adjustments to existing policies (pay, recruitment, family leave, flexible working etc.) as well as explaining why it is important to carry out ‘horizontal’ pay audits and how to undertake one. It also offers a starting point for trade union activists to start conversations with members about pay inequality in the workplace and to build a campaign and negotiate improvements. The toolkit has been developed by a number of trade unions including the BFAWU and academics with support from HR specialists and lawyers. The toolkit can be accessed here read more
NUJ
Newsquest threatens to cut entire features team at The Herald (12 Apr) – NUJ condemns move by Newsquest and warns members will resist at every turn. The NUJ is to ballot for industrial action over proposed redundancies for the entire features staff at the Glasgow-based titles The Herald and Herald on Sunday. The plans, which would see the loss of the entire staff team of six experienced and respected features writers, have been described as “short-sighted and fundamentally damaging to The Herald brand.” by the NUJ’s Herald and Times chapel, which represents members working for the Herald titles, the Glasgow Times, The National and Sunday National read more
BBC North West journalists vote for work to rule (6 Apr) – NUJ members are making a stand about the damaging impact of job cuts on news output in the region. As well as working with a significantly reduced workforce, staff at BBC North West are now expected to take on more and more technical duties previously carried out by skilled technical staff. If allowed to continue, the quality of the regional news programmes will suffer and deteriorate, they say. More than 97 per cent of NUJ members in the chapel voted in favour of industrial action. It follows the BBC’s decision to cut £25m from BBC England’s budget, leading to 450 job cuts cross England. The vast majority of journalists who work for BBC North West are NUJ members read more
Equity
Universal Credit campaigning update (12 Apr) – Ensuring Equity members can access adequate financial help through the social security system is a key priority for the union, especially with the current cost of living crisis. The government introduced a major change to Universal Credit in February, as we reported in our last Universal Credit campaigning update. The changed rules give new claimants just four weeks to look for their usual line of work instead of three months. After four weeks, claimants have to start looking for any job or risk sanctions. We remain concerned that this rule risks pushing many Equity members into financial hardship. Four weeks is an unreasonably short timescale, which will prejudice performers and creative practitioners whose work is by its very nature intermittent, unpredictable and precarious. We are continuing to monitor the situation very closely and ask that any members affected by the change get in contact with us read more
Support for students and staff affected by ALRA closure (5 Apr) – We extend our full solidarity to all those impacted by the closure of The Academy of Live and Performing Arts (ALRA) including students, staff and the members of the creative workforce engaged by the institution. This will come as a devastating shock to students, who have already faced disruption to their studies throughout the pandemic, and now face yet more uncertainty. Members of the creative workforce receive this news of loss of income amidst an unprecedented fall in living standards and rising costs of living read more
Sign the petition to save Stratford Circus! https://www.change.org/p/save-stratford-circus
USDAW
#ReinstateMax: defend sacked Tesco USDAW rep Max McGee – 3 months on from exhausting all appeals, Max McGee is preparing to take Tesco to an Employment Tribunal over his trade union victimisation and sacking. A GoFundMe page has been set up to donate to Max’s reinstatement campaign and trade union comrades are encouraged to raise the campaign at their Trade Union branches and Trades Councils over the coming weeks. Link to the page below:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist
Messages of solidarity and photos can be sent to [email protected]
UVW
Security guards defiant in fight against racist outsourcing at Great Ormond Street Hospital (8 Apr) – After an epic six-week strike in February and March, the heroic security guards at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) are continuing their fight against racist outsourcing by striking on every Friday in April. The predominantly Black, brown and migrant security guards are the only workers at the well-known hospital who do not receive full NHS sick-pay. On Friday 29 April the guards and their union, United Voices of the Word (UVW), will be holding a large strike rally outside the hospital. By this point, the workers will have taken over 50 days of strike action as part of their fight for justice and equality read more
Security guards at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) are on strike every Friday in April as part of their fight against racist outsourcing. The trustees need to do the right thing and give these workers the rights they deserve! Support the six-week GOSH security guards strike read more on UVW Facebook page
IWGB
Write to London Bridge Hospital: End poverty pay & poor treatment of cleaners! Use this quick tool to back the workers by writing to the London Bridge Hospital bosses at HCA Healthcare and Compass Group read more
Longest Gig-Economy Strike Hits Day 100 as Stuart Delivery Boss Admits to Pay Cuts in Meeting (1 Apr) – The longest gig-economy strike in history hits day 100 as JustEat subcontractor Stuart Delivery’s UK general manager Brendan Hamill declares pay was previously too high in recent meetings with a union representative. This represents the first admission from the company that the new pay structure equates to a pay cut, despite Stuart previously claiming that the 24% cut to the base rate rolled out in early December 2021 was “fairer” read more
Write to Stuart Delivery, JustEat: END THE STRIKE, PAY RISE NOW!
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU defers industrial action at Lisk Ireland following offer on pay and conditions (13 Apr) – SIPTU representatives decided on Wednesday, 13th April, to defer industrial action at LISK Ireland in Gort, Co. Galway, which was scheduled for Thursday 14th April. The move is in response to engagement at local level that has resulted in an offer of improved pay and sick pay for the workers at the company read more
Other News
Ceilidh for Palestine – hosted by South East Kent Palestine Solidarity Campaign. 7pm Saturday 14th May, 2022 at the Westgate Hall, Canterbury. Commemorating al-Nakba and celebrating resilience.
Join us for an Irish and Palestinian cultural celebration with a performance by Hawiyya Dabke Dance Troupe and Ceilidh Tree’s ace fiddles and amazing caller, guaranteed to get you dancing. With speakers, fundraising raffle, food, stalls and more! All funds raised will support South East Kent PSC. Please buy tickets and encourage family and friends to join us. Details about tickets here
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
Support GARY CARNEY, TRAIN OPERATOR – LONDON UNDERGROUND
Defend Adrian Mitchell RMT driver on London Underground
Donate to solidarity campaign of Moe Muhsin Manir Unite bus rep Email messages of support to Moe: [email protected]
Trade union rep victimisation at Woolwich Ferry reaches ‘obscene levels’, says Unite
Unite: Ealing’s Labour council ‘actively helping’ Serco ‘hound’ union rep from civil enforcement job
St Mungos management escalate dispute by suspending Unite rep – sign petition: End the culture of fear at St Mungo’s – model motion
St Mungo’s: Unite will not tolerate victimisation and bullying
Sign petition: Reinstate Gary Bolister sacked GMB rep at Islington Council
Watch Reel News video: Victimised union reps: Act like it’s you and fight back
Reinstate John Boken Shropshire NEU rep – For more details and send solidarity messages, email [email protected]
Sign petition to support Redbridge NEU Rep Keiran Mahon
Watch Reel News video: Huddersfield teachers strike to defend Louise Lewis
Victimised Tesco warehouse rep Max McGee fighting for reinstatement read more. There is now a GoFundMe to support the campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist) and Max can be invited to speak at Usdaw and other union branches plus trades councils ([email protected])
QC appointed to lead the independent Unite inquiry into blacklisting (25 Mar) – Unite is delighted to announce that Nick Randall QC and John Carl Townsend have been appointed to investigate the possible collusion by union officers in blacklisting. Over the past months, evidence gathering by Thompsons solicitors has continued, with many blacklisted construction workers and other witnesses having already been interviewed. The work of the independent investigators is expected to start officially on 11 April read more
#SPYCops Inquiry exposes state surveillance of workers movement
Keep up with developments and read and watch campaigners’ statements on the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) and Undercover Policing Inquiry websites and spycops info Facebook group
Builders Crack: The Movie
In the current situation, this long lost film from the 1990s about rank and file union organising in the construction industry is intended to lift the spirits, but also to spark a debate in our movement. Hope the youngsters in this film put a smile on your face.
Watch – Share – Discuss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZ-QMA1FMg
Blacklist Support Group
Book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
Blacklist Support Group financial appeal: the Blacklist support group is desperately short of funds, to continue the incredible work we need more finance, would you please consider making a donation, raise it at your branches and trade councils. Please make cheques payable to Joint sites committee and send to 70 Darnay Rise Chelmsford Essex CM1 4XA. Please forward onto your contacts many thanks Steve Kelly (JSC Treasurer)
Blacklisted t-shirts available at: https://shop.hopenothate.org.uk/component/hikashop/product/78-blacklisted-t-shirt
International news
UNISON attends the trial of trade unionists in Turkey (13 Apr) – UNISON stands in solidarity with eight trade unionists in Turkey charged with terrorism offences for carrying out their union duties read more
Hong Kong: NUJ and IFJ call for charges against journalist Allan Au to be dropped (14 Apr) read more
NUJ: India: several journalists arrested in recent weeks for their reporting (13 Apr) read more
NUJ: Jordan: journalists targeted in Pegasus spyware hacking (11 Apr) read more
NUJ: Myanmar: journalist sentenced under counter terrorism law (11 Apr) read more
The NSSN is continuing to report on how workers are organising during the coronavirus pandemic
The NSSN is opening up our weekly email bulletin, website and social media platforms of Facebook and twitter to provide a public forum for workers during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis. We want to be a place where we can all share queries and experiences that workers are facing in their workplaces. These include reports of action taken by workers to defend themselves from their employers.
You can read about many of these actions in our weekly bulletin and out social media groups, especially our Facebook group: NSSN – defend workers’ rights under Coronavirus.
You can also send the NSSN your reports and queries via our website, twitter – @NSSN_AntiCuts and email – [email protected]
We welcome the information being sent to union members concerning the spread of coronavirus, including the Accord, Advance, AEP, AFA-CWA, ASLEF, BDA, BECTU Sector of Prospect, BFAWU, BOS-TU, College of Podiatry, Community, CSP, EIS, Equity, FBU, FDA, GMB, HCSA, MU, NAHT, NASUWT, National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD), Nautilus International, NEU, NGSU, NUJ, PFA, Prospect, RCM, SoR, TSSA, TUC, UCU, UNISON, Unite, URTU, USDAW, WGGB and the RCN
But it is absolutely vital that unions retain their ability to organise and act independently in defence of their members and workers generally. This includes the right of unions to take industrial action. We are already aware of workers being forced to take unofficial action on health and safety grounds. We also believe that unions should have oversight of any government bans on protests and picketing. This is the same Tory government that tabled more new anti-union laws in the Queens Speech in December 2019 and cannot be trusted and is now attacking the right to protest through its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
We believe that it is essential that workers are protected during this worrying period and are not impacted, whether in terms of their safety as well as their pay and employment rights. The Tory government have announced measures that include some workers receiving 80% of their wages. This furlough scheme was due to finish but has now been extended because of the 2nd lockdown. But it’s clear that the Tories are looking to end it asap.
However, we believe that no worker should pay the price for any spread of the virus. We say: work or full pay. Any worker who is required not to attend work or is unable to do so because of COVID, childcare or transport closures should receive full pay and not be forced to take annual leave. But unions have to remain vigilant that any government payments actually happen and also covers all workers, including those in precarious employment such as zero-hour contracts and in the gig economy.
We have drafted this model motion which we’ve made into a bulletin that can be downloaded and printed off to be distributed. Feel free to use in your union and trades council, in totality or partially to highlight the issues that need to be addressed.
Keep an eye out for other Facebook and social media groups and pages that are being created. The Coronavirus Support Group for Workers has been set up on Facebook and is a useful forum and you can catch up on disputes at Strike Map UK
Diary
June
18 TUC National Demonstration – 12noon Parliament Square, Westminster, London SW1P 3BD read more
July
2 NSSN Conference 2022 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Facebook event
9 Durham Miners’ Gala 2022 Facebook event
15-17 Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival 2022 read more
September
11 NSSN TUC Rally 1pm Brighton
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
